Josh & Sarah, adventure bloggers

“The darker stages of life fuelled my hunger for adventure”

My mental health issues sprang up out of nowhere in my early 20s, while I was studying in Sheffield. Mental health is a tricky one, isn’t it? It doesn’t discriminate, it can’t be predicted, it can be impossible to find a cause and harder to ‘solve’. 

“Why am I feeling this way? Where did it come from? What can I do to stop it?” These questions consumed me. There seemed to be no escaping it, and so for a while, confused with how to respond to my change in mental wellbeing, I suffered. It changed me from a confident, cheerful and motivated person to what felt like a shell of my former self. 

Lifestyle changes, meditation, new hobbies, healthier eating – I tried many things which helped to varying degrees but there would still be dark clouds, thoughts and feelings. 

Unless I was outside. 

I began finding solace in the Peak District, spending longer and longer periods of time absorbed in the outdoors. When I was outside my mind was clear. The inner happiness and confidence came back to me. Finding myself in stunning remote landscapes, climbing mountain peaks or surrounded by adventure, I felt invigorated and full of life. 

The outdoors became my priority. Hiking, cycling, climbing, camping, exploring mountains, lakes, forests and valleys... I felt so uplifted and inspired, and quickly realised, despite my mental health starting as something negative that held me back, it had actually become the catalyst for events that would shape my life.

I started pushing myself with bigger peaks, longer hikes and crazier trips. This all eventually led to me and my partner in crime, Sarah, completing the UK Three Peaks Challenge by bike to raise money for charity. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but the feeling of testing my limits, spending 24 hours a day surrounded by wild locations and achieving something great was unbeatable. 

Knowing I wanted a life immersed in the outdoors guided me towards a career in travel and adventure writing. All this time outside brought out the staunch environmentalist in me and also motivated Sarah and I to start a blog that helps others embrace the outdoors too. 

In a funny way, I’m grateful for experiencing those darker stages of life. It opened my eyes to a world of possibilities and will likely always fuel my hunger for adventure. Most importantly, it’s been a constant reminder to just spend more time outside, in beautiful natural places, something I think we can all benefit from. 

Right now, we’re embarking on our biggest challenge to date: a cycling expedition from England to India. It’s already been an unforgettable experience of a lifetime that brings me happiness every day. But without my mental health issues, it might never have happened. 

Follow Josh and Sarah’s ethical adventure blog at veggievagabonds.com